chris lord alge inspired mix

[chymer]

hi,
So I mixed this track and i wouldnt mind some feedback.
im going for that really snappy/compressed CLA type mix.
So, am I way off the mark?Or is it in the ballpark?
In your opinion, what do I have to do to get it closer (apart from mixing on SSL through nice outboard)..... its all ITB.
this is my first mix of the song and I am now living with it untill i tweek this week with feedback from client.
Overall Im pleased with it but its hard to be completely objective about it so please be constructive and give me your opinions and advice.
Oh BTW, I slammed it as a rough mastering type of vibe.
thanks for your time
cheers
chymer

[Kestral]

You're definitely in the ballpark, just some thoughts you might want to try out:
- There's too much reverb overall imo
- The vocals need need even more compression and be pushed upfront more
- The guitars are not mid-rangey enough
- The drums need some more tightening up

Also from an arrangement point of view the sections need to be more defined sounding. I find CLA mixes tend to have that, almost as if each section was mixed indiviudally and when moving from section to section there's a quiet a bit of change in dynamics. The drums sound like they were played straight through sections, I find the CLA stuff tends to mix it up in the various sections.

[Jason Poulin]

sounds great but the focus is too much on the kick/drums


push it back a bit and bring in the vocals a bit more.


good luck


really cool stuff



Jason

[chymer]

Thanks for the comments guys. I agree with the guitsr not cutting enough, also I agree with the kick getting too much attention, but you know when your mix is slamming and you want it to punch you gotaa mix it quite foreward, but its jhard to know when enough is enough.
I will slam the vox more, maybe in paralell with some gritty 1176 all buttons in action, to keep some dynamics.
I will also, try to make the versus and choruses dynamically unique to eachother, good point.
I reckong considering its slamming, its still pretty punchy, which is what I like about the CLA mixes ie Green Day etc.
Anymore tips guys, I know I have everything against me trying to mix like chris Lord ALge but you gotta try hey.
cheers
Chymer

[keithl]

I just wanted to comment and say that I really did enjoy the mix (also agree that the bass/snare should go back and vocals more up front).

May I asked what verb/delay is being used for the vocals?
and is it double tracked?

Sounds nice and full....nice job.

Singer/vibe reminds me the New Radicals.

Thanks,
Keith

[chymer]

Hi, thanks for the comment.
Its a delay on the vox. A short delay from the UAD-1 card.
The vox is doubled.
When you say vox up, do you guys mean the BVs? I think they could be more up.
but the lead vox seems good to me, maybe I could make them bite more in the mids so it pops out more instead of just turning them up.
Ok cool, thanks for the feedback.
i also thought the drums were pretty tight, but now i listen, i think the HIHAT could be tightened up, and I mean not in timing, but more in decay and snappiness, also the toms could be snappier.
cool, Im onto it and I will post a revised mix later in the week.
Feel free to comment more guys
cheers
Chymer

[rainsinvelvet]

I thought it sounded pretty awsome. I thought the kick could come down a bit, but overall it seems pretty slamm'n to me.

A couple of questions:
How did you get the drum sounds? Is there drumagog/SR going on? Processing?
the reason I ask is because everything sounds so focused and powerful. I often have trouble with hihat leakage w/out some kind of sound replacement/ enhancement going on.

Otherwise, sounds great! You should be proud.

ERic

[chymer]

hey thanks mate,
Yeah the kick has too much click I think, i can turn that down easy as yes...drumagog is my friend.
cheers
chymer

[Dahmen]

Originally Posted by chymer

hey thanks mate,
Yeah the kick has too much click I think, i can turn that down easy as yes...drumagog is my friend.
cheers
chymer

Hi there.

I would also love to see a more round and FAT kick in there. Otherwise its pretty well done. Maybe a bit too much slammed - i find it hard to concentrate on the sounds of the single instruments but i guess thats the way things sound now.

Good work!

[mhartman]

Chymer,

I don't really have any constructive words of wisdom for you (other than the clicky kick that has already been pointed out), but I just wanted to chime in and say that I think that your mix sounds great (especially given that it is ITB). I listen to a bunch of stuff on here, but rarely say much. I was really impressed with the quality of your track, so I figured that it was time to chime in and say good job! You have inpired me to get back to work and figure out how to step up my game.

Mike

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by mhartman

Chymer,

I don't really have any constructive words of wisdom for you (other than the clicky kick that has already been pointed out), but I just wanted to chime in and say that I think that your mix sounds great (especially given that it is ITB). I listen to a bunch of stuff on here, but rarely say much. I was really impressed with the quality of your track, so I figured that it was time to chime in and say good job! You have inpired me to get back to work and figure out how to step up my game.

Mike

I 2nd that. Really that is a great mix..... very very nice.

I agree that the kick can be brought back a touch but the rest is killer. I would be a bit worried if it was too compressed on the 2 buss, might be a problem for the ME but it sounds good. If it were me (and it's not) I would print it like it is then print one with no 2 buss comp to be safe. The mix will fall apart but remember you can get it back in mastering (as you said this is just a rough mastering idea anyway).

So... with that said, kicking mix man!! Honestly I am impressed. At this point any criticism should be seen as "artistic" (as in ask 10 different engineers what they would do to a mix and you will get 10 different answers). No critisism at this point should be "you better fix this or that"... you are well beyond needing to fix anything, this sounds great.

[chymer]

Hey guys,
thanks for the encouraging comments.
Its funny cause I spent a couple of hours making some changes and I think I shouldnt have, anyway, i have the old session saved, ill just take some edge off the kick.
This song will be getting mastered, but I think its great to hear how a mix will stand up getting smashed these days in the current climate of hyper-compression.
Im pretty happy with the drums punching through. But, i did throw up the latest greenday record to reference against mine and I just dont know how the Alge brothers do it, CLAs mixes sounded really slammin but warmer, especially the mids....anyway, i guess thats more to do with the tracking and stuff as well, mine was all done at home by the artist himself, the drums were done in a studio though with a great player.

Anyway, its good to know that even though "i know" the mix isnt on par with CLA, the song still stands up and has some impact and the mix has done it justice cause I reckon its a great song.

cheers
Chymer

[Gradation]

I love the music! So many catchy and fitting elements working for this arrangement. Also nice to hear some well-placed and played ride cymbal. Vocal phrasing, sections and harmonies really shine. Lovely. Good job by all!

You can't help but tap your foot or make a nice fist while listening. Wish I had enough falsetto to sing along. Kewl song!

A few tweaks previously mentioned and you're golden.

[True North]

good rock/pop song

great mix - maybe drums a little too crushed for my liking but I guess that is what you were going for.

and....ummm......oh yeah, the kick has too much 'click' and is too loud. Everything else is very pro and polished but it's interesting that everyone here picked up on the kick problem.

I am wondering, what is you monitoring situation? How did you hear the kick in the mix?


Great work

[chymer]

Hi, thanks for the comments.
my monitoring is.
-Genelec 1031a
-Yamaha NS-10
-Auratone
-Boom Box
-clock radio with aux input

I think it just had the "click" part of the bass drum up to cut through a dense compressed mix, but I may have overdone it thats all.
I think theres plenty of beef, just too much click.

cheers
Chymer

[Alexi]

great mix............i really dig it the way it is

[NeveMaster]

I hate sound replacer... BUt the mix is awesome in other aspects

[DHD]

Hi chymer,

Had a listen and I think the mix overall is really excellent. It makes me think Early Robbie Williams rather than Greenday.

The drums rob the power and impact of the guitars. Everything other than the drums is at a wonderful level. I think the drum sound is spoiled by the compression. Rather than the sound of parallel it sounds like the drums are over-compressed through a drum sub-mix. You switch off to this later in the track but it's real noticeable at the start. Maybe just back off the amount of compression on the drum sub and take the output down a touch to sit right with the rest of the track that is mixed so well.

I would agree with what you said about the warmth. But you have an excellent mix balance with both energy and clarity. Lots of impact from this mix. Well done dude.

Peace,
DHD

[dcisive]

I really feel you NAILED this mix. I LOVE those support vocals, and they sit in the mix just as they should. The lead vocal is perhaps compressed a tad more than I prefer, but not objectionable in the least. The other instruments are balanced and not obtrusive, but support rather than command the forefront of the mix. Great job overall. As I said the background vocals really float my boat here.

[keithl]

Hello Chymer,

I keep on listening to this mix, great stuff!

As a new owner of Drumagog, I would love to know exactly what and how you "gogged" your drums.

Complete replacement? what percentage in the mix?
Individual drums compressed afterwards or a group buss compress?

Any other tips/tricks would be awesome!

Thanks,
Keith

[Soliton]

Kick down a bit, or less high end on it. Vox up a bit.
There's something very sharp about the hi hat and the ride in the bridge. I don't know if it's a weird EQ or a harmonic thing, just something about that peanutbutter is crunchy and not smooth. And maybe more mids in the guitars, or the whole thing.
I sort of skimmed through the thread - apologies if this is just an echo.

All in all, nice job though.

[GYMusic]

Way too compressed for me. Clipped samples... no dynamics. It hurts to listen to it. But, I guess if that's the sound you're looking for, you've accomplished it. It's a great song... it's just like spray paint on a nice, new car.

[skip bitmin]

It,s a little hard to tell on my wifes laptop speakers but it sounds really
good .I guess the vox could be a little more upfront or not at this level
its a matter of taste both ways would sound good. Good job.

[Larrchild]

Chymer, I have heard "What Does it Matter" and this, and think you are very good and will soon be quite wealthy.

In this mix however, there are moments when the ride cymbal creeps up a bit hot as well as a little clicky-ness on the kick that is sticking out a tiny bit too much.

I dont know if you mixed thru the compressors or added them after, but I'll bet compression is creating these effects. Those are small details, however. As a whole its very good.

Cheers,

[krid]

chymer could you post your mix without any mastering ?

Your mix seems to sound great but the mastering is really aggressive.

[Larrchild]

By "CLA" , I presume you mean a mix that other engineers hate, but the cattle love.
I get it. This is that. But yeah, a few sec's of "before" would be good.

[audiomichael]

mooooooooooo!

[stevep]

To me the kick is fine !

If you lower it the snare will be to loud.


The 2 buss compression should be left to the mastering guys who have the good comps and EQs.



All these are small points,......


The song comes off fine ,




steve

[Drumblast]

Kick drum sounds robotic. The snare seems too gated. That's what I got after 15 seconds.

[Gradation]

You should've gone at least 16.